The Congress on Wednesday intensified its campaign against the alleged police action on students protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, staging demonstrations across Haryana and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks.

Congress workers held protests in Sonepat, Yamunanagar and Karnal, submitting memoranda addressed to the President of India through district authorities. In Sonepat, district presidents Kamal Diwan and Sanjeev Dahiya led a demonstration outside the Mini Secretariat, alleging that the BJP-led Central Government was suppressing the voice of students seeking a transparent recruitment and examination system. They said repeated controversies over competitive examinations had eroded public confidence and demanded Pradhan’s resignation on moral grounds.

In Yamunanagar, Congress workers staged a sit-in outside the district secretariat at Jagadhri, burnt an effigy of the Prime Minister and accused the Centre of responding to peaceful protests with force instead of addressing students’ concerns over recruitment delays and examination irregularities. Similar protests were also held in Karnal.

Meanwhile, the Indian National Student Organisation (INSO), the student wing of the INLD, organised a protest in Panipat. Led by state leaders Rajender Jaildar and Balraj Deswal, INSO members submitted a memorandum to the City Magistrate, condemning the alleged lathicharge and demanding action against officials responsible. The organisation also sought an explanation from the Centre over paper leaks and resignation of the Union Education Minister.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda condemned the alleged use of force against Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders, saying peaceful protest was a democratic right. He accused the BJP of turning Haryana into a “hub of paper leaks” and alleged that governments at both the Centre and in the state had failed to act against those responsible. He reiterated the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and comprehensive reforms in the examination system, while terming BJP protests against the Congress an attempt to divert attention from the real issues.

INLD national president Abhay Singh Chautala described the alleged police action against students as “a dark chapter in the history of democracy and police fascism”. He condemned the reported use of tear gas, batons and alleged mistreatment of women protesters, demanding a high-level judicial inquiry and immediate action against police officials responsible. Chautala said the INLD would continue to support students’ legitimate demands through democratic means.

Digvijay Chautala launches indefinite protest

JJP youth wing chief Digvijay Chautala on Wednesday launched an indefinite protest in Sirsa against the alleged lathicharge on students during a demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, calling on people across Haryana to raise their voice over the issue.

Chautala, along with a large number of party workers and supporters, began the sit-in near the statue of former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal at Town Park. He urged people to “turn every town into Jantar Mantar” and ensure that the voices of students and youth reach Delhi.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee also protested outside the BJP state headquarters in Panchkula on Wednesday.